What’s in a jar of honey: the label tells you

06 March 2025

In Italy, honey production is supported by over 1.6 million beehives, about 79% of which are managed by professional beekeepers who raise bees for a living. There are around 7,000 such professionals, with nearly one-third, 32.1%, located in the Northwest. Another 19.1% are in the Northeast, 18.2% in Central Italy, 17.2% in Southern Italy, and the remaining 13.4% on the Islands.
The Italian beekeeping sector is largely made up of micro-enterprises (businesses with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover not exceeding 2 million euros), most of which operate as sole proprietorships (91.7%). A significant percentage of these businesses are female-led, accounting for 19.5% of the total.
Regardless of size, production volume, or product type (Italy boasts at least 60 varieties of honey, while there are no fewer than 300 varieties worldwide), anyone who processes and packages honey must know and comply with the precise and stringent labeling regulations. Labeling has become a fundamental element of packaging in this sector, both as a communication tool and to ensure compliance with legal requirements. A well-designed label guarantees information, transparency, and safety for consumers, while ensuring that producers meet current regulatory standards.
In Italy, honey labeling requirements are outlined in Legislative Decree 179/2004, which implements Directive 2001/110/EC on the production and marketing of honey. This decree also refers to the general food labeling regulations set out in Legislative Decree 109/1992, as later amended by Legislative Decree 181/2003. One thing is certain: regulatory revisions are continuously evolving.

Mandatory information on honey labels

To comply with regulations and provide clear information to consumers, a jar of honey must include the following mandatory information:

1. The sales name, such as honeycomb honey, honey with honeycomb pieces, and filtered honey, with the option to specify the botanical origin (e.g., acacia honey or chestnut honey), the geographical origin, or specific categories such as PGI, PDO, or organic beekeeping;
2. The net quantity, indicated in grams (g) or kilograms (kg). Since the quantity indicated on the packaging must always be the net or nominal weight, it is not necessary to precede it with phrases like “net weight,” “net content,” or similar. Metrological regulations (Presidential Decree 391/80) set minimum character heights based on the product’s weight (volume);
3. The minimum durability date (MDD), indicating the date by which the product retains its specific properties if properly stored. This must be stated at the packer’s discretion and preceded by one of the following phrases: “best before…” when the date includes the day, or “best before end of…” in all other cases;
4. The name, company name, and address of the producer or packer responsible for marketing the product, or, if the operator is not established in the European Union, the importer into the EU market;
5. The production or packaging facility address, if different from the address of the responsible marketer already indicated on the label. While this is not required by EU Regulation 1169/2011, it is explicitly required by Legislative Decree 109/92, which remains in effect;
6. The country of origin where the honey was harvested. The phrase “Italian honey” is sufficient to indicate the country of origin (Circular No. 4 of May 31, 2012);
7. The production lot, determined by the producer and consisting of numbers and/or letters; it must always be preceded by an uppercase “L” without a period. Lot identification is not required if the MDD is given in the format dd/mm/yyyy.

Readability and presentation of information

Regulations require that mandatory information be easily readable and understandable for the average consumer. Specifically, the minimum character height, measured by the lowercase “x,” must be at least 1.2 mm. For packages with a surface area smaller than 80 cm² on the largest side, the minimum height can be reduced to 0.9 mm.
One of the most commonly used materials for honey labeling is paper, thanks to its ability to convey authenticity, naturalness, and craftsmanship. While paper may not always be the best choice for food products, especially those requiring refrigeration, this is not an issue for honey.
A highly durable and versatile alternative is polypropylene, which offers greater resistance to external factors and to the product’s drips.

Environmental labeling and other optional information

Since September 26, 2020, with the entry into force of Legislative Decree 116/2020 and the introduction of so-called “Environmental Labeling,” producers are required to provide information to ensure proper disposal, reuse, and recycling of packaging. This information must be included on the label to guide consumers in the correct disposal of the packaging, promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
Additional information may be provided as long as it complies with two fundamental principles: it must not mislead consumers about the product’s origin, quality, characteristics, or properties, and it must be based on relevant scientific data. Optional information may include the production date, storage or usage instructions (excluding therapeutic claims), environmental warnings (such as “do not litter” or related symbols), and nutritional information.
Finally, some of the label’s information may be repeated on a tamper-evident seal, which helps protect both the consumer and the producer from potential tampering.